Megaways Slots

Megaways has taken the online casino world by storm, and it’s easy to see why. No fixed paylines, no predictable patterns: just a shifting grid that delivers a different setup on every spin and a ways-to-win count that can reach six figures.

Play Megaways slots with Virgin Games for the ultimate experience.

What Are Megaways Slots?

Megaways is a reel mechanic originally developed by Australian studio Big Time Gaming. It was first introduced in 2015 and has since been licensed to dozens of leading developers, becoming one of the most widely used formats in online slots.

The mechanic works by replacing fixed paylines with a random reel modifier. For every spin, the number of symbols displayed on each reel changes at random, from anywhere between two and seven. Because the number of ways to win is calculated by multiplying the symbol count across all six reels, the potential combinations change constantly.

When every reel displays the maximum of seven symbols, the result is 117,649 ways to win on a single spin (7x7x7x7x7x7). That number drops and rises with every spin, which is what helps give Megaways games their unpredictable and energetic feel.

How the mechanic works

Shifting grids: each reel can display between two and seven symbols per spin, chosen at random by the game engine

Ways to win, not paylines: instead of fixed paylines, matching symbols on adjacent reels from left to right count as a win

Cascading symbols: most Megaways titles use cascading (or reaction) reels, which is where winning symbols are removed from the grid and new ones fall in to replace them. This gives you more chances to win from a single spin

Why Play Megaways Slots

As we explore later, many providers have licensed Megaways for their own titles, which is a testament to its popularity within the video slot space. Let’s see exactly what sets these games apart from others.

Every spin is different

With the grid reshaping itself following each spin, no two rounds play out the same way. The shifting reel sizes help create a sense of unpredictabilitythat a fixed-payline slot has difficulty replicating.

Cascades keep things spinning

The cascading reel mechanic means a single spin can produce multiple consecutive wins. Each time a winning combination lands, those symbols clear and new ones fall in, forming a chain reaction that can extend a single spin well beyond its initial outcome.

Packed with features

Megaways titles are rarely stripped back. Developers layer additional mechanics into the core format. Such mechanics include:

Win multipliers, which are often found in free spins rounds, can increase after every successful cascade, with some titles offering unlimited multipliers

Mystery symbols, which are symbols that land on the grid and then transform into the same matching symbol to potentially connect a winning line

Free spins rounds, typically triggered by landing a certain number of Scatter symbols, are bonus rounds where Megaways games tend to produce their biggest potential returns

An ever-growing library

The Megaways licence has been adopted by some of the biggest studios around, meaning new titles are introduced regularly. We keep our game library fresh too, so there’s always a different take on the format to explore with us.

Megaways Slots: Are They Right for You?

Why they might suit you

If you enjoy variety, the constantly shifting grid in these games makes each round feel different

Cascading reels, shifting ways to win and bonus features means there’s a lot happening on-screen, suiting those who enjoy high-energy gameplay

Growing multipliers and free spins rounds – in addition to cascading reels – mean the games can generate significant returns during bonus sequences

A range of titles, from classic fruit machines to branded games, means finding a suitable theme shouldn’t be an issue

Why you might look elsewhere

The shifting grid, cascades and features happen simultaneously, meaning they can feel overwhelming if you’re used to the clean simplicity of a classic three-reel slot

Spins take longer to resolve, as cascading reels mean a single spin can take more time to play out than a standard slot

Typically high volatility and variance, with most Megaways titles built around infrequent but potentially significant returns

Comparing Available Megaways Slots at Virgin Games

If you’re wondering where to start, we’ve compiled and compared five popular Megaways games available here so you can get an idea of what to expect.

A Look at Some of the Megaways Providers at Virgin Games

The Megaways licence has been taken on by a wide range of leading studios, which is part of the reason the format has expanded so rapidly. Here are some of the developers behind the titles in our library.

• Big Time Gaming (BTG): the Australian studio that created the Megaways mechanic in 2015. They remain one of the most respected names in the format, with Bonanza Megaways among the most popular games in video slot history.

• Blueprint Gaming: known for adapting the Megaways engine across a broad range of themes and integrating progressive jackpots into several of their grids. Bar X Safecracker Megaways is just one example of their recognisable titles.

• Light & Wonder: a major player in both land-based and online gaming, their Megaways catalogue includes titles with strong, familiar themes and feature-rich gameplay.

One of the reasons the format has endured is down to how adaptable it is. The mechanic has been applied to virtually every theme imaginable, from ancient mythology and adventure to branded titles and classic casino aesthetics.

Several of the most popular standard slots have also been given the full Megaways treatment. If you enjoy the Irish charm of the Rainbow Riches series or the familiar layout of Fishin' Frenzy, dedicated Megaways versions of both are available in our library, bringing the same themes you already know to a far more dynamic grid.

For players who enjoy the structure of a familiar franchise but want something more from the gameplay, these crossover titles are often a strong starting point.

Megaways on Your Mobile

You don’t need to be at a desktop to play. Our full Megaways library is optimised for mobile, running just as smoothly on a smaller screen as it does on desktop.

Fast, secure and easy to use, our free Virgin Games app comes with all the Megaways games we have on-site as well as a gamut of traditional online slots and live casino games. That’s in addition to smooth account syncing between desktop and mobile, and a suite of responsible gaming tools. Download it today on either iOS or Android.